Passing in Dublin of Mayo academic Sean Sheridan is deeply mourned
The death has occurred unexpectedly at the Blackrock Clinic of Seán (John T.) Sheridan, Dundrum, Dublin, and formerly of Railway Terrace, Castlebar.
He is sadly missed and deeply regretted by his loving wife Jutta and his son Daniel, mother Lily, sisters Maire and Louise, brothers Tom and Michael, mother-in-law Hildegard, sisters-in-law Sheila, Heike and Anita, brothers-in-law Padraig, Lothar and Bernd, nieces, nephews, extended family, students, neighbours and friends, to whom deepest sympathy is tendered.
He was predeceased by his father Mick, a native of Balla, who had a long association with the building trade.
Many warm tributes have been paid to Sean on the condolences page of the death notices website, RIP.
One of his former teachers at St. Gerald’s College, Christy Tynan, said: “If ever there was a gentleman and a scholar, Sean was.”
Another tribute stated: “He was an amazingly insightful scientist and he was incredibly committed to his students and colleagues.
"Through his work and his example, he was an inspiration, making friends around the world and influencing a generation of students and colleagues.”
A further tribute said: “He was one of life's bright lights, whose warmth touched everyone around him.
"A focal point for both laughter and sincerity, his honesty of character and generosity of spirit were boundless and readily observable by all.
"Séan's legacy extends far beyond his body of scientific discovery but resides in the hearts and minds of all those lucky enough to know him in any capacity.”
A leading academic, Sean, aged in his late 50s, was professor and vice-principal for Research and Innovation at the College of Engineering and Architecture and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University College Dublin.
A past pupil of St. Patrick's National School and St. Gerald's College, Castlebar, he received his Bachelors degree (H1) in Electronic Engineering from University College Galway in 1985, and his Masters degree in the Science of Electrical Engineering, (MScEE), from Georgia Tech, in 1986.
In 1987 he matriculated as a member of Jesus College Oxford and, in 1991, was awarded his doctorate by Oxford University.
This was followed by postdoctoral research fellowships.
In 1994 he took up a position as a visiting scientist at the European Commission Joint Research Centre, in Italy.
In 1997 he was appointed to the School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, as a permanent lecturer.
He joined the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College Dublin in 2000 as a college lecturer.
In 2005 he became a senior lecturer and, in 2007, was appointed Professor of Optical Engineering within the UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
He has acted as deputy director of the UCD Communications/Optoelectronic Research Centre and also of the SFI Strategic Research Cluster in Solar Energy Conversion.
He regularly chaired and served on national and international conference committees and review panels and was a member of the editorial boards of several international journals.
Professor Sheridan was a co-founder and director of the UCD start-up company Equilume and was actively engaged in collaborative projects with national and international academic and industrial partners.
Seán will repose at Fanagan’s Funeral Home, Dundrum (D14 F3X2) on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday in the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the Miraculous Medal, Bird Avenue, Clonskeagh, followed by a private family service and cremation at Mount Jerome.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.